For Kelsey Wojdyla, homework in the sixth and seventh grades took a lot longer than it might have taken her classmates — especially when it came to math. With her ruler in hand, Wojdyla neatly measured and perfected her equal signs in every equation. Hours would be spent on a single assignment. These days, Wojdyla’s homework and school life are a little more under control.
Now a freshman here at TCNJ, Wojdyla’s Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), as “diagnosed” by her friends, is now manageable. Wojdyla’s friend Lauren Campisano, a freshman psychology major, was able to give her advice about her OCD. Although not “officially pin-pointed,” according to Wojdyla, Campisano believed Wojdyla’s main issue to be anxiety.
Nevertheless, Wojdyla believes her OCD can actually benefit her life now.
“Being a perfectionist comes in handy,” she says. “Especially being at school, I’ve learned to live with it. Everything is always neat and I think professors love it.”
The blonde-haired, brown-eyed collegiette looks like your average student at here on campus and like many first year students, the Journalism and Professional Writing major isn’t completely sure what she wants to do with the rest of her career just yet. But after years living with the OCD that affected various things in her life, such as her dorm room, car, and clothing, her future is one that does not have to be completely organized. Wojdyla believes that, at 18-years old, she doesn’t need to have everything figured out just yet.
Wojdyla chose to major in Journalism and Professional Writing because she was never drawn towards math, science or history.
“I’ve always been told I’m a good writer,” she says. Wojdyla plans on furthering her involvement with the major by writing for The Signal and maybe even our very own Her Campus.
The young writer has been able to control her OCD while at college, allowing her these opportunities to get involved.
“I’m more toned down now, not as crazy with rulers,” she says. “I’m involved in the French Club, the CUB [Campus Union Board], and I work at the bookstore,” she says. “I want to study abroad in Paris, too.”
Though it still affects the way she feels when people touch her things in her Travers’ 6 dorm, her strength to not let it get in the way of her relationships allows the freshman to be a part of different groups and clubs on campus and gain new friends.
“I keep it inside with friends,” she says. “My family gets the brunt of it because I kind of know they’ll always be there.
With friends, clubs, and a plan for her future that isn’t completely set, Wojdyla has a life that is moving forward with a little less OCD every day. Oh, and her homework is taking less time, too.